Women in Engineering 2025: Joanne Newman
In celebration of Women in Engineering, we sat down with Jo from Actemium Automation’s 24/7 Emergency Support Team to learn more about her two-decade career in engineering. From building long-term customer relationships to leading a close-knit team, Jo shares what drives her passion and purpose in the field.
Hi Jo, thank you for taking the time to talk to us about your role and career in Actemium. Can you tell us a bit about what you do what you love most about it.
Well, I work in our 24/7 Emergency Support Team at Actemium Automation 24/7 Support. I’ve been part of the business for 20 years now — and I genuinely love it.
One of the things I enjoy most is the long-term relationships we build with our customers. Over time, we get to know their systems inside and out, which really helps us provide fast, effective support.
The role can definitely be demanding, especially when things get busy, but there’s also a bit of flexibility when things are quieter, which is a nice balance.
You mentioned above the long-term relationships you build with clients. The key theme of this year’s Women in Engineering is “Together We Engineer”. How does that play out in your day-to-day work?
It really does come down to how we work with our customers. We often act as an extension of their own in-house capabilities, so there’s a strong sense of collaboration.
Within our own team, we also rely on each other a lot, especially during out-of-hours support. There are times when you have to make that call and wake someone up for help, which is never easy. But because we’ve all been on both sides of that situation, there’s a real sense of mutual support. It’s made us a close-knit team—we all understand what’s involved and we’re always willing to step in and help each other out.
So what advice would you give to women thinking about a career in engineering?
Honestly, the reason to go into engineering should come down to your skills and what you enjoy—not your gender.
I’ve always loved science and maths, and I was drawn to the logical, problem-solving side of engineering. If that’s what excites you, you should do it. That advice applies to everyone—choose a career that makes you happy.
Who and what in your view has helped you grow your career at Actemium?
Definitely my team. They’ve played a huge part in my development. At one point, I was actually chosen by my team to step up as team leader—which meant a lot. That kind of trust and support really motivated me to keep growing.
Tell us a bit more about how do you and your team support each other—personally and professionally?
We’ve always had a really democratic way of working. Everyone gets a say in decisions, and that creates a sense of ownership and empowerment. There’s also a lot of freedom to explore technologies or focus on customers you enjoy working with, which helps you find your niche and grow.
It would be great if you can please share a moment from your career when you’ve felt proud to be part of a team at Actemium?
There have been quite a few, but one that stands out is how everyone pulls together when a customer has a serious issue. I know I can count on my colleagues to drop what they’re doing and jump in to help—whether they’re in my team or elsewhere in the business. That sense of unity is really powerful.
Also, when we earned a place on the Best Companies to Work For list—it was a proud moment for all of us. We went away to celebrate as a team, which was a real highlight.
As a female engineer, what the moto or saying has helped you in your career?
We are engineers who happen to be women. That is how I see it.
Do you agree with Jo? Is engineering a career path for you? Check out our available positions or talk to us about apprenticeships and graduate opportunities – reachout@actemium.co.uk.